Nectarines are tasty and juicy fruits that are hybrids of peach and plum. They are distinguished by their smooth skin and sweet, soft flesh, making them popular among many fruit lovers. The history of nectarine breeding is amazing and rich, from an accidental discovery to the creation of new varieties that delight us with their taste and quality.

The origins of selection

The history of nectarine breeding begins in China about 2000 years ago. One of the legendary stories claims that the first nectarine appeared in the village of Im Pei, when a monk accidentally discovered a small tree with a smooth skin and juicy flesh in a peach garden. This tree turned out to be a hybrid of peach and plum, and was named "nekurati" or "sweet peach".

Over time, knowledge about nectarines spread to other countries, and selection began to develop more actively. In the 18th century, nectarines were introduced to Europe and the United States, and became very popular with gardeners and farmers.

Selection process

The nectarine selection process consists of several stages. The first stage is seed selection. Seeds are collected from the fruits of the most successful trees in order to maintain the desired characteristics. The seeds are then sown and grown until the plants reach breeding age.

The second stage is the selection of the best descendant plants. Plants are judged on various characteristics such as taste, texture, color, disease resistance, etc. The best plants are selected for further selection.

The third stage is the creation of hybrids. At this stage, the selected progeny plants are pollinated with each other to obtain new hybrid combinations. These hybrids are then grown and evaluated to meet the desired characteristics.

Modern breeding achievements

Nectarine breeding does not stop there, and work is constantly underway to develop new varieties with better characteristics. Modern varieties of nectarines differ from their predecessors in improved taste, larger fruits, increased disease resistance and ease of cultivation.

Nectarine breeding is a complex and time-consuming process that requires many years of effort and patience. However, thanks to this process, we can enjoy delicious and high-quality fruits that delight us with their qualities and health benefits.